2nd Chronicles 30:9

All throughout Israel’s history, there were times that they disobeyed God. That disobedience brought punishment upon them, sometimes in the form of exile out of their own land and into a foreign one. At the beginning of Chapter 30, King Hezekiah is preparing for the Passover Feast. He sent word throughout the land inviting everyone to join him. They had not been celebrating it in great numbers as required in the Law.

The king sent a letter to go throughout Israel and Judah. Our verse is a quote from that letter. This letter is encouraging them to return to the LORD, especially because they survived the conquest of the Assyrian kings.

Our verse is two of those IF/THEN promises we have talked about. IF they return to the LORD, THEN their captors will show them mercy and they will be able to return to the land. Also, IF they return to the LORD, He will be gracious and merciful and will not continue to turn His face from them.

I don’t know about you, but I’m so thankful that God can’t and wouldn't ever turn His face from us! When He looks at us, He sees His Son’s blood covering our sins and has mercy on us. We are dearly loved!